You've GOAT to be KIDding me

[Ninjasquirrel]

My SO and I are trying to make the slow transition into a self sufficient homestead. Ive noticed that of our groceries we eat a lot of cheese. So Im toying around with possibly rearing goats in the future as our land is too small for a cow. However im completely ignorant as to anything about goats. Do you need to keep them pregnant like cows to produce milk? Do they poop as much as my chickens do? What sort of enclosure do they need? What should i provide them for feed? Are they edible?
Needless to say I have a lot more research to do before we even consider getting them. If anyone has any links to information on how to successfully rear goats i would really appreciate it. Also if you can answer the few questions i asked above that would be very helpful.

 

[Cyprus]

Okay I'm gonna jump on this bandwagon as I've both worked with dairy cattle and researched dairy goats for years.

First: Yes goats are edible. But a fullblood dairy goat won't give you much meat UNLESS you're talking about crossing two dairy breeds and raising the males for meat. I.E Nigerian x Nubian is the best example.
Second: You don't have to keep neither a cow nor goat constantly pregnant for the female to produce milk. In fact, you shouldn't. Cows are bred about 60days after calving because cows are pregnant for 9 months and start drying up about 9 months after freshening (giving birth) so they get 2mo off to produce fresh milk, calve, milk for 60days, get bred, get dried up at 7mo gestation and repeat.
Goats are pregnant for 5 months and can milk for up to 2 years in the case of some Nubians. The general rule of thumb is to breed a doe about 3months into her lactation cycle and dry her up when she has 2months of gestation remaining.
Third: If you want to make cheese you need A LOT of milk so your best breed of choice is Saanan (basically the Holstein of goats). To make the kids worth more, breed her to a Boer buck.
Fourth: Goats are escape artists and not for people completely new to livestock. They take very strong and secure fencing to contain and lots of mental stimulation.
Fifth: Goats are foragers, not grazers. That means they can't just eat grass. Hay is a must and branches are a great addition to their diet.
Sixth: Goats do poop a lot and their poop is harder to clean than with cattle. Goats are also picky eaters and drinkers, so if hay is soiled or water is dirty, they will not eat or drink it.

Any other questions? Feel free to ask

 

[Perris]

before you go much further, can I ask is the cheese you like and eat so much of goat's?

 

[PirateGirl]

I'm following your post as I am interested in goats as well. I've done some research, but I'm no means an expert. What I will offer up is this... Sheep ruin the land because they rip plants up by the roots so it takes much more for the pasture to recover and/or much more land to raise a flock of sheep. Wool won't pay the bills, but meat might. Cattle eat grasses, goats eat the other stuff, so they can be grazed together without competing for food. (also goats eat the tops of the plants and leave the roots in tact) Like cattle, there are meat goat breeds and there are dairy goats, yes you could eat a dairy goat and could milk a meat goat but it wouldn't be efficient or economical, a dairy goat won't produce much quality meat and a meat goat won't produce as much milk, decide which direction you want to go or have a mixed herd Depending on your land and the quality of your pasture will impact what and how much you need to feed them, depending on what your purpose is (meat or milk) may impact their dietary needs as well (like meat vs. egg layers in chickens). That's about as far as I got with my research, I did start looking at different breeds and how much milk a day they produce and what that sells for and how much meat a goat would produce and what it sells for per pound, but that all changes with the market and your geographic location etc.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Nubians are a dual purpose breed, though more bone than meat. So are pygmys, to some extent (mostly because of multiplicity).

One thing you can do is raise dairy does and a meat buck. Just sell all of the kids (instead of keeping the doe kids for milk, as you normally would.)

EDT: And yeah, very few mammals are going to produce milk without first having a reason to produce it, aka, babies.

 

[Rammy]

My SO and I are trying to make the slow transition into a self sufficient homestead. Ive noticed that of our groceries we eat a lot of cheese. So Im toying around with possibly rearing goats in the future as our land is too small for a cow. However im completely ignorant as to anything about goats. Do you need to keep them pregnant like cows to produce milk? Do they poop as much as my chickens do? What sort of enclosure do they need? What should i provide them for feed? Are they edible?
Needless to say I have a lot more research to do before we even consider getting them. If anyone has any links to information on how to successfully rear goats i would really appreciate it. Also if you can answer the few questions i asked above that would be very helpful.

There are alot of knowledgeable goat owners on Backyardherds.com. Id go there for advice and information. I think you will find alot of good articles to read on goat care, too.

 

[Rammy]

Good to know! I think we would be leaning more to a milk goat versus a meat goat. I wonder though if there are varietys that can be used for both like with chickens. Our birds are a meat/layer breed which is why they appealled to us.

I know a few people on BYH have LaMachas or Nubians because they say the milk tastes better. The persons you could ask directly on there are @goat_whisperer or @goatgurl. They raise goats of both breeds. Also, @devonviolet makes her own cheese and milk from her goats.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

before you go much further, can I ask is the cheese you like and eat so much of goat's?

No not really. Its mostly cow cheese we have bought. I do like goat cheese though and i feel that we can make the transition into eating and making our own cheese. I know how to make cheese ive just never done it.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I'm following your post as I am interested in goats as well. I've done some research, but I'm no means an expert. What I will offer up is this... Sheep ruin the land because they rip plants up by the roots so it takes much more for the pasture to recover and/or much more land to raise a flock of sheep. Wool won't pay the bills, but meat might. Cattle eat grasses, goats eat the other stuff, so they can be grazed together without competing for food. (also goats eat the tops of the plants and leave the roots in tact) Like cattle, there are meat goat breeds and there are dairy goats, yes you could eat a dairy goat and could milk a meat goat but it wouldn't be efficient or economical, a dairy goat won't produce much quality meat and a meat goat won't produce as much milk, decide which direction you want to go or have a mixed herd Depending on your land and the quality of your pasture will impact what and how much you need to feed them, depending on what your purpose is (meat or milk) may impact their dietary needs as well (like meat vs. egg layers in chickens). That's about as far as I got with my research, I did start looking at different breeds and how much milk a day they produce and what that sells for and how much meat a goat would produce and what it sells for per pound, but that all changes with the market and your geographic location etc.

Good to know! I think we would be leaning more to a milk goat versus a meat goat. I wonder though if there are varietys that can be used for both like with chickens. Our birds are a meat/layer breed which is why they appealled to us.

 

[PirateGirl]

I feel like my dual purpose chickens instead of being good for both eggs AND meat, I feel like they are just average for BOTH . There are lots of different goat breeds out there, I'm sure you can find one that will work for you! Do a quick craigslist search and see what's available in your area, there is a reason that these breeds are common and popular and easy to find in your region. I'd start my breed research there.